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MSc Education, Children & Youth

MSc (NFQ Level 9)

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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The MSc Education, Children and Youth is an interdisciplinary programme specialising in research, policy and practice relating to children and young people. 

The MSc Education, Children & Youth is an interdisciplinary programme specalising in research, policy and practice in relation to children and young people.  Set in the context of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the programme explores key aspects of  the welfare and well-being of children and young people from a multi-disciplinary perspective.  It does so recognising the complexity and inter-dependence of issues facing contemporary childhoods and youth. The programme encourages students to develop along a trajectory of critical thinking and independent learning through a series of tailored reading programmes matched to programme aims. Content is covered through a combination of lectures, laboratory work, seminars and tutorials with a strong emphasis on collaborative group work and active learning, including the use of on-line resources and discussion.  A range of assessment strategies are incoroprated including essay, presentation, mind mapping and group project work.

About This Course

  • Have the ability to integrate knowledge and to reflect on wider disciplinary, scientific, professional, social and ethical responsibilities in conducting a research dissertation on a defined aspect of the lives of children and young people.
  • Demonstrate and develop skills in self-directed and autonomous/self-directed learning through the completion of academic assignments and reports.
  • Develop appropriate academic writing and communicative skills, engage in group work and presentation of core ideas, concepts and research findings.
  • Show critical awareness of current policy and practice in relation to children’s rights, (especially as articulated in the UNCRC) and well-being and its application to a range of contexts across education, health and other sectors.
  • Show critical awareness of the cognitive, social and personal development of children and young people and how concepts related to time, space, generation, agency, structure and identities shape understanding of children’s everyday lives.
  • Deepen insights and critically consider issues of equality and social justice in the experiences of different groups of children and young people across a range of settings and contexts.
  • Show familiarity with the concepts of agency and competency of children and young people and critically consider implications for their active participation and voice across a range of settings.
  • Show critical awareness of debates policy and practice working with diverse groups of children including those with additional support needs, migrant children, and children across different cultural, economic and societal contexts.
  • Show familiarity with the main research traditions in researching the lives of children and young people, including quantitative qualitative and mixed methodological approaches, as well as child participatory approaches that prioritize children.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with the Growing Up In Ireland data sets (quantitative and qualitative) and capacity to analyse and apply findings in the context of international studies.
  • Be thoroughly familiar with ethical issues in relation to research with children and young people.
  • On completion, students should: Demonstrate detailed conceptual knowledge and understanding of the field of childhood and youth related research and childhood as a social phenomenon and draw on a range of disciplinary perspectives.

This fast growing area is suited to those working with children and youth across a range of professional and public services including
education, psychology, social work, health, law, social policy, NGO and research settings. It is also suitable for people wanting a career
change to working with children and youth.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
EDUC41520 Children's Rights & Participation Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
EDUC42890 Research Methods (Blended) Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
EDUC42910 Research Methods 2 (Blended) Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
EDUC42920 Children & Youth Dissertation Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Students must take at least one, but not necessarily both from the list below. But may take both
EDUC42590 Equalities, Social Justice and Children's Learning Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Students must take at least one, but not necessarily both from the list below. But may take both
EDUC43250 Wellbeing of Children and Youth Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 2 of:
Option Modules
EDUC40310 Education Sciences: Psychology Applied to Schools Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 2 of:
Option Modules
EDUC41500 Critical Policy Analysis Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 2 of:
Option Modules
EDUC44150 Education for the 21st century Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 2 of:
Option Modules
EDUC50190 Key Issues in Second Language Development Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 2 of:
Option Modules
EDUC40420 Inclusive Education for Pupils with Additional support Needs Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 2 of:
Option Modules
EDUC42980 History of Childhood&Learning Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 2 of:
Option Modules
EDUC43870 Global Development Education Spring  10

Sara Lannin
MSc in Education, Children and Youth

“I wanted to learn about things that I’m most passionate about so it would be children and youth and education and it was this Master’s is everything that I wanted to do. I learned about the research, the policies, the practice and the different concepts that exist for understanding and supporting children and young people. I have the skills now to support and advocate for them in society thanks to the MSc. We looked at children’s rights, participation and well-being, global development education and research specifically with children. I loved the theoretical content but also the new people I met. It. is a really international programme with people from all over the world, so
you learn from different experiences and understandings.”

MSc Education, Children & Youth (W480) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9330
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

Candidates applying to this programme will normally hold an upper second class honours degree (NFQ Level 8 or international equivalent)  from a recognised higher education institution. Admission to this course is subject to an interview. We welcome international applicants and advise that applicants, whose first language is not English, should have an IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no band below 6, or equivalent. Only applicants who have met the English language results will be considered.

You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes


This is suited to those working with children and young people across a range of professional and public services including education, psychology, social work, health, law, social policy, NGO and research settings. It is also suitable for people wanting a career change to working with children and youth.


General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MSc Education, Children & Youth:

ROWCLASS Apply to
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W480
MSc Education, Children & Youth
Master of Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Taught
* you can change options at the top of the page